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Dracut man facing new ice-rink theft charges

By Rick Sobey, rsobey@lowellsun.com

Updated:
02/14/2014 07:46:17 PM EST

BILLERICA -- A Dracut man who was charged earlier this week for alleged thefts at Skate 3 Ice Arena in Tyngsboro is now being charged with stealing items from the locker room at Billerica's Hallenborg Ice Skating Rink on Feb. 4.

In connection with the Billerica incident, Timothy Brace, 36, is being charged with larceny from a building, receiving a stolen credit card and attempt to commit a crime.

On Feb. 4, Billerica police received a report of a locker-room theft at the Hallenborg rink. The victims reported they had been playing hockey after using a locker room to change into their equipment.

Upon returning to the locker room, the victims discovered that someone had gone through their personal belongings. Numerous items were taken, including cash and charge cards.

After opening an investigation into the incident, Billerica Detective Andrew Devito learned that similar incidents had also occurred in Tyngsboro at Skate 3 and Salem, N.H. at the Icenter arena.

After connecting these crimes, probable cause was developed that resulted in formal charges against Brace, who is currently in custody on unrelated charges at the Essex County House of Correction in Middleton.

For the Tyngsboro incident, Brace has been charged with one count of larceny from a building, three counts of improper use of a credit card under $250, one count of breaking and entering of a motor vehicle in the nighttime with the intent of committing a felony, one count of larceny under $250 and two counts of larceny of a credit card.

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Tyngsboro Police Chief Richard Howe said patrons of the popular ice arena and roller-skating center reported in December their credit cards, wallets and vehicle keys were stolen. The reports were similar to cases reported at skating rinks in Billerica and Salem, N.H.

Howe said Brace was reportedly going into patrons' lockers in December, taking wallets and car keys, which he used to burglarize vehicles parked in the lot.

Brace was identified as a suspect in the Tyngsboro case with help of the Dracut and Billerica police departments, according to Howe.

In Salem, N.H., Brace was also suspected of larcenies at the Icenter arena. Salem, N.H., police confirmed that case was opened in January.

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